CNV: Lecture slides and notes

Lecture slides will be posted here as the course progresses, along with notes on each lecture.

Note that some slides are password protected because they contain copyrighted figures. These should be readable from any University of Edinburgh machine. To read them from an external machine such as a home system, the username and password can be found in /home/jbednar/public/cnv/www-site.txt on a UE Informatics DICE machine.

09 Jan 2006: Introduction (4up version)

Handed out introductory slides and gave overview of course, focusing on why vision is an important topic, why computational modeling can be useful, and what makes a particular type of computational model appropriate for a given use.

Note that this class differs from NIP (Neural Information Processing) in being much more qualitative, with very little mathematical work required, and by providing extensive background material on vision. It differs from NC by focusing on large numbers of units organized into topographic maps, rather than on more detailed study of individual neurons. It differs from CCN by being focused on specific results from the neuroscience of vision.

Assigned chapter 1 of the text as background reading.

12 Jan 2006: Vision background (4up version)

Began review of biological data about the visual system. Covered image formation, the gross anatomy of the visual sysem, the structure and function of the retina, and cell response types in the retina, LGN, and V1.

16 Jan 2006:

Continued review of the visual system, focusing on feature maps in V1.

19 Jan 2006:

Continued review of the visual system, focusing on lateral interactions, feedback, and higher visual areas.

Assigned chapter 2 of the text as background reading.

23 Jan 2006:

Completed review of the visual system, focusing on development.

Suggested background reading: the vision chapter(s) of any neuroscience textbook, e.g. Bear, Connors, and Paradiso, Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, or Kandel, Schwartz, and Jessell, Principles of Neural Science.

26 Jan 2006: Modeling background (4up version)

Began review of modeling approaches for computational neuroscience of vision, focusing on non-developmental models for early visual areas.

30 Jan 2006:

Continued review of modeling approaches, focusing on SOM-based model of learning retinotopy.

Assigned chapter 3 of the text as background reading.

02 Feb 2006:

Worked through SOM tutorial on learning mapping for retinotopy.

06 Feb 2006:

Finished review of SOM-based models, focusing on how they can be used to illustrate general mapping principles, despite their limited biological realism.

09 Feb 2006: LISSOM intro (4up version)

Introduced the LISSOM model as a more biologically realistic but closely related way to develop maps.

Assigned chapter 4 of the text as background reading.

13 Feb 2006: LISSOM orientation maps (4up version)

Introduced the LISSOM model of orientation maps.

Assigned section 5.3 of the text as background reading.

Discussed Assignment 1 (available on the web this evening).

16 Feb 2006:

Finished discussion of basic LISSOM model of orientation maps.

20 Feb 2006:

Mechanisms for working with large-scale images: contrast-gain control via afferent normalization, and scaling models to larger areas and densities.

Background reading: Chapter 8 starting with section 8.2.3, and chapter 15 through 15.2.3 (only skimming necessary).

23 Feb 2006:

Pre-natal and post-natal development of orientation maps. Background reading: chapter 9.

27 Feb 2006: LISSOM OR/OD/DR (4up version)

Discussed Topographica usage and questions about the first assignment.

Discussed what visual features would be useful to measure besides orientation, focusing on properties that can be detected reliably through a small circular aperture with a limited resolution.

Background reading: rest of chapter 5.

02 Mar 2006:

Introduced LISSOM models of ocular dominance and joint models of orientation and ocular dominance.

06 Mar 2006:

Models of motion direction and joint ocular dominance, orientation, and motion direction.

09 Mar 2006: Higher level models (4up version)

Models of areas beyond V1, and higher-level visual capabilities.

13 Mar 2006: Course summary (4up version) and final exam preparation

Background reading: Chapters 16, 17, 18.

Last updated: 2006/03/13 02:32:13


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